Rose Valley 115 years ago and upcoming events

 

    Boating on Ridley Creek in Moylan Rose aka Valley about 1910

Note: Originally Rose Valley was not considered a great place to live. Home of many mills in the 18th century it was referred to by many as "Rogues Valley". Many mills were not financially successful and others suffered flood and fire damage owners came and went quickly. The name Rose Valley began to be used about 1810.

CHESTER TIMES – October 28, 1905

            ROSE VALLEY AND ITS PRETTY SCENES 

 Home of Artists and the Lovers of Nature and Her Many Beauties 
Quaint and Pretty Places

            Rose Valley today is a place of pilgrimage.  Not only does its fine scenery attract the stranger, but there are other things of interest that draw the people by the scores to the pretty little artists’ settlement in Nether Providence.  One of the foremost artists of the day, Alice Barber Stephens, has built her own home here; a small hotel, quaint in its simplicity, has had a successful season this last year; and several industries that require the most skilled workmanship are slowly but surely gaining a place in this thriving community.  Rose Valley is talked about so generally and has brought itself so prominently into public notice that a brief history of the locality may be welcome to its many admirers.

            The spot was given its attractive name by Bishop White, who had the distinction of being the first Episcopal Bishop to the state of Pennsylvania.  The house where he lived is still standing and has been occupied this last summer by the instructor in wood carving and modeling at the Drexel Institute, Philadelphia.

            The ruins of the old mills, now covered with ivy, in all the glory of its autumn tints, bespeak remarkable activity in the past century.  Back in 1789 a snuff mill was built on the banks of Ridley Creek at this locality and the product carried to Philadelphia and sold there in tobacco stores.  Thirty years later we find it the scene of a strange industry.  The old wheels are grinding medicine barks, which were eagerly sought for as remedies for man’s ills until quinine displaced their use.

            In 1896 the factory took its place in the long line of paper mills, so many of which have flourished and have been forgotten in our country in the last hundred years. Not until 1861 do we find the spot in the scene of its greatest activity.  In that year Antrim Osborne bought the buildings and rights to the water power, and, repairing the dam and race, built a three-story stone building, 75x56 feet, and started the operation of a textile industry.

            In a letter written at that time a description of the factory speaks of its having 1934 spindles, 60 looms, and three lots of cards.  A few years later additions were erected; another decade, and we find the place enlarged to more than double its capacity in 1861.  The products were woolen jeans and doeskins.

 

DCHPN Monthly E-Newsletter

November is Native American Heritage Month, Aviation History Month, Family Stories Month, and Historic Bridge Awareness Month Veterans Day is November 11- Thank you to all our veterans! Happy Thanksgiving! Check out all these events happening this month RittenHOWL: A Spooky, Spirited Evening at Historic RittenhouseTown Nov 19, 8:00 PM – Nov 20, 11:00 PM Historic Rittenhousetown Homestead, 208 Lincoln Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19144 Join us under a bright moon for a spooky, spirited evening at the Historic RittenhouseTown. Seasonal drinks, Whiskey and gin tasting, Traditional light fare, Flashlight tours of the grounds with ghost stories, and Tarot card readings. $55   Learn More *Remembering a Great American Hero MARIAN ANDERSON - The Lady From Philadelphia History Presentation Nov 23, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Roosevelt Community Center, 464 S Old Middletown Rd, Media, PA 19063 Join us as local author Joe Henwood give a wonder presentation about the most significant, celebrated Philadelphian of the 20th Century, Marian Anderson. In addition to her singing, she was an iconic trailblazer for humanitarian issues.    Learn More Grange Winterfest Nov 27, 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM Grange Estate, 143 Myrtle Ave, Havertown, PA 19083 Start of the Christmas season at the Grange Estate. See the house decorated with Christmas trees and Santas in every room. Trains at the barn open 1-5:30 pm. Open houses throughout December- see below   Learn More Researching the History of Your Home Nov 30, 6:30 PM Online- registration required Researching homes is similar to researching your ancestors - on steroids. Join genealogist Sara Dawson as she discusses how to research older homes to discover the historical significance of the people, place, architecture, and events that happened there. $10   Learn More Discover more events Virtual Activities Announcements Native American Heritage Month From Lenape-nation.org: WHO ARE THE LENAPE?     ​      The Lenape people are the original inhabitants of Delaware, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Southern New York. For over 10,000 years they have been the caretakers of these lands and of The River of Human Beings, more commonly known as the Delaware River. The Lenape were the first tribe to sign a treaty with the United States and the first tribe to have land set aside for them in New Jersey.        Over a period of 250 years, many Lenape people were removed and dispersed throughout the country. Some took refuge with other tribes. A large number of Lenape families remained in the homelands and continue the traditions of their ancestors up to our present day. Today the Lenape people from all over Turtle Island (North America) are revitalizing their communities.        Many place names in Pennsylvania are derived from the Lenape Language, such as Manayunk, Conshohocken, and Neshaminy...to mention only a few. In the city of Philadelphia stands a statue of Chief Tamanend, a revered leader among the Lenape, who signed many treaties with William Penn. The history of the Lenape is truly the history of Pennsylvania.   Heritage Commission Annual Seminar- “Genealogy of a House: Tracing your Home's History” Learn how to research a building's history, whether it's your own home or a historic building you are interested in. This seminar is appropriate for historic home owners; historical societies, commissions and HARBs interested in updating their historic resource surveys; and people interested in saving buildings in their community and getting involved in historical organizations.  If you missed the presentation or want to watch it again, click here for the video and presentation links: More information   America 250 PA Delco America250PADelco is an official partner to America250PA. Help celebrate over 250 years of American history in Delaware County! The America250PADelco committee is an official county partner to America250PA, and is looking for organizations and individuals to help commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Our mission is to engage all Delaware County residents in the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by providing and supporting experiences, now through 2026, that ignite imaginations, elevate diverse stories, inspire service, and  highlight the American founding and 250 years of American history through Delco’s unique lens. Follow us on social media: Facebook    Twitter    Instagram Website    Email: info@america250padelco.org   DCHPN Survey We would like to start having DCHPN meetings again, and would like to arrange one for early next year to discuss Heritage Tourism, America250 and other things. There is also an opportunity for a Website workshop from Penn State Brandywine. Please fill out this survey about both of these opportunities.    Delco Heritage Tourism If you are with a Delaware County Historical Organization, you may have received a survey by the Heritage Tourism Task Force about Heritage Tourism in Delaware County. This survey is for all organizations that host events and/or have sites to visit so that Visit Delco, PA can help promote your group, including free marketing materials and photos. Please fill it out as soon as you can. https://arcg.is/1Knzim is the link to the survey. Fill out one survey per site and/or organization (so if you are responsible for two sites, fill it out twice). Thanks!   Real Philly Real Fast In addition to the November 17 talk, you can learn more about Philadelphia History through this book by Jim Murphy:  “Real Philly History, Real Fast” is written with today’s readers like you in mind. It’s history for everyone. Short 3-to-5-page chapters on 51 intriguing subjects. Each with an informative headline and sub-head, easy-to-read bullet copy, short, punchy paragraphs, Fast Facts, a photo, and a list of nearby attractions. You get the complete story in minutes. Learn more and purchase the book here   Urge Your Senators to Support Improvements to the Historic Tax Credit! As a result of your efforts, provisions to improve the historic tax credit were included in the initial drafting of the infrastructure legislation under development in the House of Representatives. On September 15, the House Ways and Means Committee approved its piece of the Build Back Better legislation, which included all of the provisions of the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (HTC-GO). Disagreement over the size of the infrastructure legislation, however, likely means it will be reduced and certain provisions will be cut. Take action now to let your senators know you support the historic tax credit provisions proposed by the House of Representatives and that you want to see them included in the Senate bill. With sustained advocacy, the preservation community will be well-positioned to take advantage of a very rare opportunity to substantially improve and modernize the federal historic tax credit. Urge your senators to include improvements to the historic tax credit as part of the Build Back Better legislation making its way through Congress.   Educational Opportunities: Grant Writing: How to Find Funds and Write a Winning Proposal Write a successful grant proposal. Learn about the grant review process, organizational missions, and public and private funding sources. $99 through Penn State Extension   Award Opportunities: PA Museums 2022 Special Achievement Awards Call for Nominations Each year, PA Museums recognizes the special achievements of museums and historical organizations in Pennsylvania. This is your invitation to nominate a project or process that is exemplary, or an individual for lifetime achievement.   Community Initiative Awards The Community Initiative Award from the PA SHPO recognizes organizations, municipalities, agencies, individuals, and others whose work embodies the theme of Pennsylvania's recently released statewide historic preservation plan, #PreservationHappensHere   Heritage Commission Preservation Awards Call for nominations will come out in December. Start thinking of Delaware County projects, preservation sites and people that are candidates for an award. Previous award winners are on the Heritage Commission page. Open Houses Delaware County Historical Society Tuesdays-Thursdays 10am-4pm 408 Avenue of the States, Chester, 19013 https://www.padelcohistory.org/   Grange Estate- Haverford Township Christmas at the Grange- house tours and trains: Saturday, November 27 1:00 – 6:00 2nd Annual Winterfest Sunday, November 28 1:00 – 4:00 Saturday and Sunday, December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 26 1:00 – 4:00 Saturday, December 4th the Mansion will be closed for tours the trains will be operating Saturday, December 11th Flute concert in the Mansion beginning at 2:00 pm Thursday, December 23 5:00 – 8:00   Wednesday, December 29 5:00 – 8:00   January 1, 2, 8, 9 1:00 – 4:00 https://thegrangeestate.net/christmas/   Thomas Leiper House- Nether Providence Twp Saturdays and Sundays Aug through December, 1-4 pm.  https://nphistory.org/   Rose Valley Museum and Thunderbird Lodge, Rose Valley December 4-5, 12-4 pm. 41 Rose Valley Road, Rose Valley, PA 19063 https://rosevalleymuseum.org/     Donations are welcome at all historic sites If your site has open hours, please email dchpn_planning@yahoo.com to include it on the next newsletter